DOMESTIC, sexual and gender-based violence experienced by women and children in Donegal is more complex than ever, services have warned.
Three expert support groups – Donegal Women’s Centre, Donegal Domestic Violence Services, and Lifeline Inishowen – today (Friday) highlighted the evolving forms of abuse.
Together, they are highlighting that while abuse is “often associated with physical violence”, their specialists are seeing “increasingly complex forms of control, including an increase in coercive control, financial abuse and technology facilitated abuse”.
In a joint statement, the services revealed: “Technology can now be used to monitor, threaten, isolate and control women, from tracking locations and monitoring phones to harassment, surveillance and intimidation through social media and other digital platforms.
“Leaving an abusive relationship does not necessarily mean escaping the abuse. Technology can allow perpetrators to continue exerting control from a distance.”
All three organisations emphasised the importance of recognising how abuse is changing, including the growing role of technology in digitally facilitating control, and ensuring that women’s voices remain central to the response and providing the specialist support to all women and children experiencing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence across Donegal.
Donegal Women’s Centre manager Mary Herlihy said: “Women across Donegal deserve support, regardless of where they live.
“For a woman experiencing domestic abuse, geographical isolation can add another layer to an already frightening and dangerous situation.
“Women need somewhere safe to turn, somewhere they will be heard, believed and supported as they begin to rebuild their lives.
“The face of abuse is changing. It is not always visible, and technology has created new ways for perpetrators to monitor, intimidate and control women. We are here to listen to women’s experiences and ensure specialist support keeps pace with these changing forms of abuse.”
arnings have also been issued by Fiona Jordan, interim assistant manager at Donegal Domestic Violence Services, which has supported women and children since 1991.
Its 24-hour helpline helps victims to access emergency accommodation, outreach, safety planning, advocacy and practical support.
Fiona said: “Women may be experiencing several forms of abuse at the same time, with technology increasingly being used as another tool of control.
“The impact can extend into every area of a woman’s life, her safety, finances, housing, children and relationships.
“Women contacting us may be living anywhere across Donegal. They may be in a town, a village or an isolated rural community.
“Wherever they are, they need to know that help is there. Geography must never decide whether a woman can reach safety.”
Bridgeen Coyle, who is general manager at Lifeline Inishowen, which provides specialist community-based support across the peninsula, highlighted concerns of “distance and isolation” in rural communities.
Bridgeen said: “This makes it harder for women to seek help and access support. Local, community based services are essential.
“We can help ensure that women and families have a pathway to safety, wherever they live.
“The nature of domestic, sexual and gender based violence continues to evolve.
“Women and children need to be recognised, believed and supported, with access to specialist services within their own communities.”
She added: “For women living in a large and predominantly rural county such as Donegal, isolation, transport, housing and financial dependence can create further barriers to safety and support.”
Help is available from the donegalwomanscentre.ie, donegaldomesticviolence.ie, and ldvs.org websites.
